Because it’s not that. It’s not thinly veiled at all. I’m going to make it blatantly friggin’ obvious that I want you to buy my book. Prepare yourself for some serious sales pitchery.

But before we get into that, perhaps some actual useful information: If you struggle with your weight, if you want to be fitter, stronger, faster, more muscular, have less pain and more energy, then nothing is more important to achieving these goals than having the will to make it happen.

The law of gravity is a real physical law of the universe. The “law of attraction” is not. Just wishing for something isn’t going to magically power it into your lap. To get in shape, you’ve got to understand the psychology and put together a lifestyle plan and act on it.

Now don't get your knickers in a twist because I used the words "psychology" and “lifestyle plan.” I've done my best not to make you blow your groceries. There aren’t any group hugs or self-affirmations or other new-age bullsh*t.

Nevertheless, it is critical to understand that the most important aspect of getting in shape isn’t knowledge, a new exercise technique or superior genetics, and it certainly isn’t taking the latest miracle pill advertised in an Internet pop-up window or guzzling $7 bottles of unpronounceable berry juice that taste like the sweat wrung from a football player’s jock strap. The critical component of fitness is something altogether different, so read this next sentence as if your ability to succeed at getting in shape depends upon it, because it does:

Motivation Rules All!

Willpower, tenacity, determination, gumption — whatever you want to call it, it all amounts to the same thing: the ability to put down the doughnut and get your ass off the couch. In other words, if you can’t motivate yourself, then you’re screwed. And potato shaped. You’re a screwed potato. By the way, I wasn’t talking about you specifically. That was a metaphorical doughnut-scarfing couch potato I referred to.

The real “how-to” of motivation

Motivation does not come from reading syrup-laden sob stories of various fat people who found meaning in their lives by getting six-pack abs, and looking at impressive before-and-after pictures is not a realistic method for strengthening your will. Oh, and neither is Tony Robbins-ing your “mental blueprint.” Whatever the hell that means.

Cognitive behavioral change is a science, and there are proven strategies and logical steps you can follow that will develop your determination to get in shape. Willpower is like a muscle. If you never work out and have a crappy diet, then I’m sorry to say that your willpower muscle sucks right now, at least as it applies to leading a healthy lifestyle. You may have tremendous drive to be a kickass accountant, salesman, carpenter, teacher or dog groomer, for all I know. What is important to understand is that your getting-in-shape motivation will not instantly transform you from Danny DeVito into Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I don’t expect you to read a single article on motivation, then have some miraculous light go off and instantly decide to make a complete 180-degree change in your lifestyle. I don't know too many people who can do that without believing God personally threatened to shove a lightening bolt up their ass if they don't start a fitness program. Psychological research proves that people hate change, which is why my approach is gradual and step-by-step. If you jump completely onto the fitness bandwagon overnight, then you are probably going to fall right back off. This is not a personal failing in you; it is simple human nature.